The boys from Glens Falls, a Warren County city synonymous with high school basketball into a fourth decade, trailed Lowville by 11 in the second quarter, by three with 20 seconds to play in regulation and by four with 15 seconds to play in overtime.

Yet won, 75-74, in an uncommonly vibrant atmosphere with the place sold out for this Class B state final.

“It’s fitting. It’s fitting, simple as that,” said Robert Girard, Indians coach and JG3’s uncle. “What he’s done for us? Not to take anything away from my other 10 guys because they’ve been awesome, but it’s fitting for him to do what just happened.”

Not all would agree, certainly not the hundreds who made for such a wonderful Lowville cheering section. From Lewis County they drove and watched their guys hang for 36 minutes with Glens Falls only to be done in by a guy who eclipsed by 6-10ths of a point the scoring average he toted to the final four.

Girard struck for his sixth three-point goal of the night and 14th in two Arena starts with 18 seconds to play in regulation for a 64-64 stalemate.

Then, after Lowville missed two free throws with 12 seconds remaining in overtime to leave it a two-point difference, Girard hit one free throw— but blundered on the second try. Sensing the throw was off-target, he burst prematurely over the line for a violation. Lowville 74, Glens Falls 73.

With those five seconds to play and Lowville inbounding, the Red Raiders’ Brett Tiffany was assessed a foul— with Girard, one foul from disqualification, on the sideline. He was not permitted to re-enter because no time had expired.

And so, New York’s Mr. Basketball watched from the sideline, only to have Glens Falls’ subsequent inbound pass broken up by a Lowville player and sent out of bounds with three seconds to play.

The Man got a reprieve.

Cousin and fellow senior Trenton Girard inbounds. Joseph cuts from the wing, accepts the pass, dribbles once, elevates, hangs and finishes just ahead of the final horn.

For the championship.

As happens to the JG3s of the world.

“There were a lot of things going through my head when there were five seconds left,” he said. “At the same time, I didn’t want to doubt our team, I didn’t want to doubt myself, I didn’t want to let these guys down. When I saw the opportunity to go back in, we had the ball, I knew it was my time.”

And from Uncle Coach: “We ran (the inbound play) early in the game and we got a three-point play off it. We figured they’d take that away. Joe was smart enough to go to the right, got open and was able to get to the hoop.”

But here’s a salute to Lowville and its interchangeable parts and discipline and shot selection and so many things that are so right about basketball.

The Red Raiders’ scoring leader was Aidan MacAulay, a sophomore whose 30 points came on 12-for-19 accuracy and who was so clutch late in the game. He was joined on the all-tournament team by twin brother Gavin, whose exit with a fifth foul in OT dealt the Raiders a crummy card.

This 22-3 squad was just plain enjoyable to watch play team basketball.

As was Girard the must-see everyone knew him to be.

In the final, his 16-for-40 shooting included 6-for-24 on three-point tries. The latter left him 14-for-47 on long-range attempts for the weekend— and here’s hoping an ice pack was at the ready for his right elbow.

That was, let’s say, uncommon. So, to many in attendance, was watching Lowville defend for a bit with a triangle-and-two alignment. One chaser guarded Girard. The other guarded … Girard.

“How many games have we played? Twenty-eight or something like that? I’d say at least 20 so I’m used to that,” he shared. “Playing at home and playing against that kind of stuff prepares me for the state tournament. I know if I see that here, I’m used to it and I’m ready for it. I credit my teammates for getting me the ball even when I’m a little double-teamed, trusting and believing in me to make a play for us.”

This is about certain to get lost in the wash, but a tip of the cap to that “other” Girard.

Had Trenton gotten wobbly under pressure and delivered a sloppy inbound, Lowville is celebrating. Instead, he was spot-on, setting Cuz up to be the star he is. Once again.

Courtside on one baseline were Jim Boeheim and Gerry McNamara, whose double-teaming efforts secured JG3’s signature for Syracuse University. Joseph and the head coach shared an exchange postgame.

“He said he loved watching the game,” the kid said. “He was messing around a little bit with me, he said Gerry had a few recommendations for the last one but … At the same time, he’s a real down-to-earth guy, a great coach and that’s why I chose to play for him. I told him, hopefully we get four more the next four years.”

Joseph Girard III, New York’s all-time leading basketball scorer, held up his end as the marquee attraction of the weekend in Binghamton. Eighty-nine points in a couple days to go with a championship capped by that “remember when?” moment will do that for a fella.